MR

When you eat out what ticks you off? What either makes you want to leave, or leave no tip, or to ____________(fill in the blank)

artist4perry wrote:When you eat out what ticks you off? What either makes you want to leave, or leave no tip, or to ____________(fill in the blank)

When I find some kind of bug or human hair (not my own) on my salad...................

Boogers on the bathroom wall.

Disgusting. Right Melissa?

artist4perry wrote:When you eat out what ticks you off? What either makes you want to leave, or leave no tip, or to ____________(fill in the blank)

Lousy service. I've seen too much of it lately.

We all went to Olive Garden for my wife's sisters birthday, and people were eating their deserts before I got my entree. I had ordered Spaghetti with Meat Balls, and for the second time in a year, they brought me Spaghetti with Meat Sauce. The first time I just ate it. Not this time. I politely asked to be brought what I ordered. Nobody was getting drink refills, either.

Not sure if it's a national practice or not, but here, when there is more than x number of people, they automatically add in the gratuity. I asked to have it taken off. The incredulous waiter asked what the problem was, and I just laughed and repeated my request. It was done. I'll never agitate a food server before I get my food. I don't want my food with spit on it.

When they fail to mention that refills aren't free and then ask you every few minutes if you want another drink!

JRNYFan wrote:When they fail to mention that refills aren't free and then ask you every few minutes if you want another drink!

I've had that happen too. Didn't pay for them, either. Absolutely refused.

Rick wrote:

JRNYFan wrote:When they fail to mention that refills aren't free and then ask you every few minutes if you want another drink!

I've had that happen too. Didn't pay for them, either. Absolutely refused.

Good man, Rick.

First I would like to say I know waiters and waitresses get little to no pay and usually need tips to get paid for the night, I have also worked as a waitress so I clearly understand busy nights, low staff, etc......

Things I hate:

Dirty plates, silverware, etc..............

Sitting through the whole meal and getting no refills...........and the place is empty or near empty.

Waiting to even be waited on...............for a long time.

Waiting on the check..........forever......

Overcooked, dry, cold, or undercooked food.

Nasty bathrooms................. or watching the waitresses or cooks not wash in the bathroom!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5ODhIFawfs

In the historic words of Mr. Pink....

Rockindeano wrote:Boogers on the bathroom wall.

Disgusting. Right Melissa?

You put boogers everywhere in public!

StocktontoMalone wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5ODhIFawfs

In the historic words of Mr. Pink....

One thing many people do not know, they don't make minimum any more. It is two something an hour.

Having that said, I tip well. Stupid is the waiter or waitress who sizes me up when I walk in and gives me lowsy service because I don't look the part, or I am alone. Big mistake. I seldom give less than 20%. Unless I get service that is bad.

Given everything that has occurred, we definitely should not grant visas to the Iranian Badminton team.

I dont like it when I get seated next to the bathrooms or to close to the smoking section or when there is a family that has no control over their little kids. When my kids were little I made them sit and behave that doesnt seem to be the norm nowdays.

KDOUBLEU wrote:I dont like it when I get seated next to the bathrooms or to close to the smoking section or when there is a family that has no control over their little kids. When my kids were little I made them sit and behave that doesnt seem to be the norm nowdays.

+1

PS~ you still have smoking sections, KW or is it KUU?!??!?!

no butt cracks...

ick! even if it's a cute one... can't eat if i see it. }:C)

artist4perry wrote:When you eat out what ticks you off? What either makes you want to leave, or leave no tip, or to ____________(fill in the blank)

Michigan Girl wrote:

KDOUBLEU wrote:I dont like it when I get seated next to the bathrooms or to close to the smoking section or when there is a family that has no control over their little kids. When my kids were little I made them sit and behave that doesnt seem to be the norm nowdays.

+1

PS~ you still have smoking sections, KW or is it KUU?!??!?!

Unfortunetly we do and its KW.

oh...

when it's just me & the hubby... and they seat us (or try to seat us) next to a family with screaming kids/loud table... wt? }:C\

artist4perry wrote:

StocktontoMalone wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5ODhIFawfs

In the historic words of Mr. Pink....

One thing many people do not know, they don't make minimum any more. It is two something an hour.

Having that said, I tip well. Stupid is the waiter or waitress who sizes me up when I walk in and gives me lowsy service because I don't look the part, or I am alone. Big mistake. I seldom give less than 20%. Unless I get service that is bad.

If the service is just so-so, nothing special... meh, I'll tip of course but I'm not going overboard.
For great service and friendly staff, I compensate pretty well.
You see where this is going...

I've only recently (last few years) started going as far at cutting off tips for horrendous service. I got to a point where I felt that if the person was flat out not doing their job, I was under no obligation to pay them for it. Just this weekend, I was at Cracker Barrel... this waiter... omg, it was like he was trying to get fired. I didn't pay the bill so I don't know if he got tipped, but there was discussion at the table of not tipping.

I've also started leaving notes on the receipts after I sign. One night, there was this waitress that was sloooowwwww as hell. And really, the place was not that busy (I do take such things into account, of course)... she was friendly enough, and yes she got tipped monitarily. She also got another tip.. a note on top of the receipt that said "Ya gotta speed it along honey". No I'm not making that up.

bluejeangirl76 wrote:

artist4perry wrote:

StocktontoMalone wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5ODhIFawfs

In the historic words of Mr. Pink....

One thing many people do not know, they don't make minimum any more. It is two something an hour.

Having that said, I tip well. Stupid is the waiter or waitress who sizes me up when I walk in and gives me lowsy service because I don't look the part, or I am alone. Big mistake. I seldom give less than 20%. Unless I get service that is bad.

If the service is just so-so, nothing special... meh, I'll tip of course but I'm not going overboard.
For great service and friendly staff, I compensate pretty well.
You see where this is going...

I've only recently (last few years) started going as far at cutting off tips for horrendous service. I got to a point where I felt that if the person was flat out not doing there job, I was under no obligation to pay them for it. Just this weekend, I was at Cracker Barrel... this waiter... omg, it was like he was trying to get fired. I didn't pay the bill so I don't know if he got tipped, but there was discussion at the table of not tipping.

I've also started leaving notes on the receipts after I sign. One night, there was this waitress that was sloooowwwww as hell. And really, the place was not that busy (I do take such things into account, of course)... she was friendly enough, and yes she got tipped monitarily. She also got another tip.. a note on top of the receipt that said "Ya gotta speed it along honey". No I'm not making that up.

I always try to get a server laughing or ask them about themselves it seems to help get us good service most of the time. I always try to tip 20% unless theyre terrible.

bluejeangirl76 wrote:

artist4perry wrote:

StocktontoMalone wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5ODhIFawfs

In the historic words of Mr. Pink....

One thing many people do not know, they don't make minimum any more. It is two something an hour.

Having that said, I tip well. Stupid is the waiter or waitress who sizes me up when I walk in and gives me lowsy service because I don't look the part, or I am alone. Big mistake. I seldom give less than 20%. Unless I get service that is bad.

If the service is just so-so, nothing special... meh, I'll tip of course but I'm not going overboard.
For great service and friendly staff, I compensate pretty well.
You see where this is going...

I've only recently (last few years) started going as far at cutting off tips for horrendous service. I got to a point where I felt that if the person was flat out not doing their job, I was under no obligation to pay them for it. Just this weekend, I was at Cracker Barrel... this waiter... omg, it was like he was trying to get fired. I didn't pay the bill so I don't know if he got tipped, but there was discussion at the table of not tipping.

I've also started leaving notes on the receipts after I sign. One night, there was this waitress that was sloooowwwww as hell. And really, the place was not that busy (I do take such things into account, of course)... she was friendly enough, and yes she got tipped monitarily. She also got another tip.. a note on top of the receipt that said "Ya gotta speed it along honey". No I'm not making that up.

If I frequent a place, the waiters and waitresses smile and look happy if I am in their section, after a while you get a reputation for good tips too. I agree BJG, you should not have to tip great if the service was so, so. But if a waiter busts his butt, fills my drink before I have to ask, checks on me frequently, is polite, friendly, and smiles I make it worth their while.

One time I had a waitress that would not listen when we ordered, screwed up our orders, talked to us too much when she wanted to, not when we needed her, and took forever to bring food, drinks, refills and the check. She proceded to tell us all her problems, with her personal relationship and at work without us wanting to know, and was impossible to find when we wanted to go. We had to go find the person who greeted folks at the front to get our check! We waited 30 minutes after she said she was going to go get it! I tipped her two bucks. For me this is an insult tip. I have been so upset I have left a penny.

Australia just doesn't have the tipping culture - but then, we also pay hospitality staff pretty well; more than minimum wage. If a tip is left, it's often when a group of people are eating together, everyone throws in the rough amount and there's some left over, or else you just round up to the nearest $10 or $20. Keep the change, in other words. We certainly don't do the X% thing.

I didn't realise this until it was pointed out to me by an American, but when Australians like the service in a place, we stack the dishes or pass them to the staff when they are clearing up. He thought it had something to do with our fairly egalitarian culture; if you were eating at a friend's house, you'd help clear the table, so if you like the person who is waiting on your table, you treat them as though they were a friend. Something like that anyway.

Having worked in hospitality in Australia and the UK, I think I prefer the Aussie way. People took the time to say please, thank you, the food was good, etc. and the chefs always liked it when we took a compliment back to the kitchen. Didn't get so many of those in the UK. The extra money was nice, but being treated like an invisible servant wasn't so nice. At the end of the day, I'd rather be a human being doing a job and respected for it than 10% of the bill.

As to what bugs me when I eat out? Staff talking to each other and ignoring people waiting to order. I can tolerate food taking time, an order getting messed up, the meal not being so great; we're all human and mistakes happen. But ignoring paying customers to chat while on the job is just intolerable. I usually give them 5 minutes before I walk up to where ever the cash register is and make a point of ordering my meal there. Loudly and with projection so the whole restaurant can hear

Arianddu wrote:Australia just doesn't have the tipping culture - but then, we also pay hospitality staff pretty well; more than minimum wage. If a tip is left, it's often when a group of people are eating together, everyone throws in the rough amount and there's some left over, or else you just round up to the nearest $10 or $20. Keep the change, in other words. We certainly don't do the X% thing.

I didn't realise this until it was pointed out to me by an American, but when Australians like the service in a place, we stack the dishes or pass them to the staff when they are clearing up. He thought it had something to do with our fairly egalitarian culture; if you were eating at a friend's house, you'd help clear the table, so if you like the person who is waiting on your table, you treat them as though they were a friend. Something like that anyway.

Having worked in hospitality in Australia and the UK, I think I prefer the Aussie way. People took the time to say please, thank you, the food was good, etc. and the chefs always liked it when we took a compliment back to the kitchen. Didn't get so many of those in the UK. The extra money was nice, but being treated like an invisible servant wasn't so nice. At the end of the day, I'd rather be a human being doing a job and respected for it than 10% of the bill.

As to what bugs me when I eat out? Staff talking to each other and ignoring people waiting to order. I can tolerate food taking time, an order getting messed up, the meal not being so great; we're all human and mistakes happen. But ignoring paying customers to chat while on the job is just intolerable. I usually give them 5 minutes before I walk up to where ever the cash register is and make a point of ordering my meal there. Loudly and with projection so the whole restaurant can hear

That is a big problem for servers here in Orlando who work in the tourist areas or theme parks. There are many countries who do not use gratuity for food service, so the people just assume that they are getting paid much more than they are. I believe it's under $3.00/hour many are being paid. I noticed in some of the tourist area restaurants they have signs and notes on the menus about gratuity, but then some of the foreign speaking ones still don't tip.

Bad service and rude customers.

My wife and I ate out at this one Mexican restaurant once where there was a large group of mothers with their kids. The mothers all sat at one table and the kids at another. They paid no attention to the kids whatsoever. The kids were throwing food (some of it landing on other tables), throwing it on the floor and stomping on it, running around screaming, and whatever else an unsupervised child does. None of the waiters, waitresses, or the manager did a darn thing about it.

treetopovskaya wrote:oh...

when it's just me & the hubby... and they seat us (or try to seat us) next to a family with screaming kids/loud table... wt? }:C\

that is the worst! I seem to be cursed in that sense